The Penn's Grove record., 1887-10-01
PLAYING WITH SHARP TOOLS.

A snowy, blustery, windy, stormy
evening, verging towards night. Ar
evening in which even a dog would
have hesitated to leave the shelter OF
his kennel; but through the binding
drifts, a slender girl, well wrapped
from the cold, was struggling on to her
home.
Her face, hidden by a brown veil,
could but dimly be seen, yet her figure
and step showed her to be young. She
carried d dressmaker's basket on her
arm and was evidently a serving girl,
returning from her daily tasks.
AS she turned a corner she ran fairly
against a gentleman who was hurrylng
IN the opposite direction.
BEG pardon, Missl' he hastily ex
claimed as he put out his hands to pre-
vent her falling. II gust of wind blew
her veil aside, and he suddenly added,
.'Wby it is Miss Darnalll What can
you be doing out on such an evening?''
IT have been sewing at Miss Eli
otis all day." returned the girl, 81
tried to get through one dress, but !
could not. And 1t got too late to stay
longer, l am taking it home to finish. u
"And did Laura allow you to come
60 far alone, in this storm, at this late
hourY" cried the young man, a thrill OF
indignation In his tones. "She should
have kept you all night" .
'Oh, no, l could not stay. 1t would
leave my mother all aloneI' hastily
said the girl.
"Very well, l cannot let you carry
that heavy basket so far AL alone, y
returned Norton Davis, kindly, "So
just give 1t to me-"
s'Oh, please not, Mr.. DavisP' said
the girl, blushing deeply. Miss Eli
OFT might not like It'll"
IN nsenseln answered Norton,
'sMiss Elliott would not like me if
did so ungentlemanly an act as to leave
you In this storm. SO just hand me that
basket, and let us hasten"
"But it will take you out Of your
wayp said Miss Darnell, as he took the
basket from her halt-frozen fingers.
"Not SO far but that | shall speedily
returnl" he said, smiling.
Eva resisted no more. 1t was grow
ing dusk so fast. 1t would be dark
before she could reach home, and she
was afraid. Surely il Mr.. Davis was
willing TO be so kind there was no harm
in accepting his kindness.
So she walked on, and was undis-
turbed even when, a moment or two
later, a handsome sleigh dashed by.
and Laura Elliott's voice said with a
mocking tone which Nortons knew
well, though innocent Eva did not:
"a pleasant walk to you'll"
"Yes."
"Mr. Davis, l am afraid she will be
displeased at your walking with mel''
81 have answered you once on that
point, Miss Darnall. But l will explain
it to Miss Elliott, to satisfy you. Miss
Eva, you had better take my arm.
These drifts are getting tedious"
And Eva placed her hand upon the
arm of Norton Davis. who was to
marry Laura Elliott in o month-ln-
deed, it was a part Of one of the we'd
ding dresses she had in that basket
and walked on to her humble home,
glad and grateful for his protection.
She did not know that in his heart
Norton was severely condemning the
heartlessness of the selfish girl who
could come directly the same road in
her warm, comfortable sleigh, yet send
this slender girl out to walk alone in
the storm.
81 knew Laura was selfish, but / did
not think she could be so unklnd to
this modest. lady-like little thingP' he
thought.
At her mothers door, he babe Eva
goodnight, and hurried back. While
she went into the house thinking how
kind aud noble he was and how happy
Laura ought to be with the love aud
care of such a man. There would never
be anything like that for herl
Laura rode on, ~furiously jealous at
meeting them together, with the little,
mean jealousy which only a shallow,
selfish nature can feel.
81 dare say he walks home with her
every night" she thought. Eva
Darnall IS a pretty little thing, and I've
been q fool to let her be in the room
every day when he was there. III not
do it again, I'm surel"
So the next day when Norton Davis
came for his usual call, Miss Elliott
met him at the door of the sewing
room, and took him into the parlor.
After a few moments she said to
him:
show long since have you been tax.
ing evening walks with my seam
stresspn
Norton colored slightly, but 1t was
with Indignation at her tone, not at
what he had done. In a few rapid
words he explained to her how he hap
pened to be with Eva.
81 am sure you would not have had
me do otherwise" he added, gently.
Laura tossed her head and answered
sneeringly:
"Oh, of course, If you want to con-
stitute yourself the squire Of all the
forlorn damsels you meet, .t's nothing
to mel / dare say you enjoy itl'
"I should have enjoyed seeing you
take ner home in your own sleigh,
Laura" said Norton. very gravely.
"What2" and Laura's eyes flashed.
"No, thank you'll l only contracted to
furnish her work, not to constitute
myself her associate afterwards. |
leave that for you'll"
Norton was stung into retorting:
81 certainly found her society very
pleasant"
"I dare sayl Pleasanter than mine,
no Doubt" snapped Laura.
"Come, child. this Is unbecoming to
you and me-" said Norton, gravely.
"Do not let as quarrel over a matter
that is really nothing"
lie changed the subject at once. But
Laura did not forget 1t. Too selfish to
Aua anuthinn uaru daanlu aha maa vat